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• • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 5, 2009 DRAFT 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 4 5 DATE : October 5, 2009 6 TIME STARTED : 6:30 p.m. 7 TIME ENDED : 7:55 p.m. 8 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Members Gallup, O'Donnell, 9 Reinert, Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson 10 MEMBERS ABSENT : none 11 12 13 Also Present: Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch; Director of Public Safety Dave Pecchia; 14 City Engineer Jim Studenski; City Finance Director Al Rolelq Economic Development 15 Coordinator Mary Alice Divine; City Clerk Julie Bartell 16 17 Review of Regular Council Meeting Agenda for meeting of October 12, 2009 — 18 19 Item 6A and 6B regarding imposition of Lodging Tax and the new convention and 20 tourism group called Minnesota Metro North Tourism. Economic Development Coordinator 21 Mary Alice Divine noted that the council will be asked to consider second reading and approval 22 of an ordinance approving a lodging tax in the city that would be dedicated to the newly formed 23 tourism bureau. Also on the agenda as related items are resolutions approving the bureau's by- 24 laws, articles of incorporation and the joint powers agreement relative to the city's participation. 25 She noted that the staff report includes letters of support from both of the city's hotels. She 26 introduced John Connelly, Director of Development of the National Sports Center, to talk about 27 the formation of the new tourism group. 28 29 Mr. Connelly noted his background in the convention and visitors industry (25 plus years). The 30 impetus of this action setting up a new bureau is to begin to serve the area in a way that the Visit 31 Minneapolis North bureau did not. Nine cities in Anoka and Ramsey County have gotten 32 together and worked with the lodging professionals in their respective cities to find a tourism 33 approach to meet the area needs. The new bureau will function with a board (each city council 34 will appoint members) and the board will oversee the work and funds of the organization. The 35 lodging industry will also have representation on the board. The board will set a budget and 36 establish a marketing plan. The organization doesn't actually come into play until January 2010. 37 38 The council discussed what type of individual would best be able to represent the city on the 39 board. Mr. Connelly suggested that leveraging the knowledge of someone in the city with an 40 understanding of the industry would be optimum. The council also received information on 41 what resources (interne, sales) will be used for promotion and heard how important it is to use 42 all available resources to remain viable in the marketplace. It was pointed out that the National 43 Sports Center is a venue that brings a lot of people to the area and Lino Lakes is close enough 44 that its hotels should benefit from it. Mr. Connelly added that the lodging tax is regulated to the 45 point that ninety -five percent of it must be used to directly promote tourism in the community the